Robert Walser - Poetenleben - 1918-1918

Poetenleben – Robert Walser

Frauenfeld und Leipzig: Verlag von Huber & Co., 1918. [4], 183, [5] pages. 18.3cm x 12.5cm. Hardcover with the publisher’s brown quarter cloth binding and paper covered boards, with an illustration on the front board, a lettered label on the spine, and all green edges. First edition of this foundational collection of short prose by the celebrated Swiss master Robert Walser. Poetenleben (A Poet's Life) compiles 25 deeply moving prose pieces and vignettes heavily revised by Walser from their original periodical appearances to form a cohesive, lyrical narrative. The author famously considered this volume the "brightest and most poetry-rich" of his entire career. the volume features a striking cover illustration designed by the author's brother, the acclaimed artist Karl Walser. A masterful example of early 20th-century Swiss literature, highly praised upon release by contemporaries like Hermann Hesse, and an essential acquisition for collectors of modern avant-garde prose.

Some rubbing, bumping, wear, and some discoloration to the boards and spine. The front hinge is cracked in the top half, and the front free endpaper is nearly fully loose. Book inscription in pen on the title page. Pencil markings on page 32. Only little browning and hardly any spotting throughout. The text is clear and the binding is soft at the front and solid for the rest. Overall, a copy in good condition.